Vending machine



May 1, 1956 B. W. FRY 2,743,842

VENDING MACHINE B. W. FRY

VENDING MACHINE May 1, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1952 www@ FIG .4Q

May 1, 1956 B. w. FRY 2,743,842

VENDING MACHINE B. W. FRY

VENDING MACHINE May 1, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 5, 1952 B. W. FRY 2,743,842

May l, 1956 VENDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 5, 1952 ,lll A l E j E L-N-l M. A?" M gw,

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May 1, 1956 B. w. FRY 2,743,842

VENDING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1952 e sheets-sheet s /0/ FIG IO.

United States Patent O varranno Maenner Benjamin W. Fry, Latine, Mo., assigner, hy mesne assignments, to National Vendors inc., a carpet-ation of Missouri Application April 5, 1952, Serial No. 280,718

17 Claims. (Cl. 2214-36) This invention relates to vending machines, and more particularly to articlefdispensing magazine-type vending machines.

More particularly, the invention relates to an article dispensing device for use in vending machines specifically for dispensing candy bars or packages of candy, although adapted for the dispensing of other articles.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a compact device of the class described for dispensing individual articles, such as bars of candy, one at a time from a supply with the arrangement such that the purchaser can view the article which he is to receive before it is delivered; the provision of a dis pensing device of this class which inherently enforces loading with articles in such a way that any articles remaining in the device will be the tirst subsequently to be dispensed, thereby insuring that no article will remain in the device for an undue period of time and, as in the case of candy, become stale; the provision of a dispensing device of this class which is capable of being easily changed to accommodate articles of different sizes; the provision of a dispensing device of this class which has a minimum of parts likely to become out of order; and the provision of a dispensing device of this class which may be economically manufactured and which is reliable and eicient in operation. @ther objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a dispensing device of this invention; certain shelves of the device being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation of Fig. l, illustrating the position of certain shelves of the device in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, with parts :further broken away and shown in section, and further illustrating the device housed in a cabinet;

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4 illustrating certain parts in moved position, and showing in full elevation certain parts broken away in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the upper end of Fig. 5, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 7 is a plan of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line S-S of Fig. 7, illustrating parts in a moved position with respect to Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a shelf per se;

Fig. 1l is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 4;

Fig. l2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 4;

2,743,842 Patented May 1, 1956 ICC Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12;

l parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1-3 illustrate a vending machine having six individual dispensing devices 1 of my invention for dispensing articles such as candy bars. The six dispensing devices are all identical. Each comprises a vertical magazine 3 of rectangular cross-section in plan. The magazines are mounted in side-by-side relation on a base frame 5. This frame consists of vertical sheet metal side plates 7 joined by a front transverse frame member 9, a lower transverse frame member 11 and a rear transverse frame member 13. The front frame member consists of a sheet metal part bent to provide a horizontal plate 15, a rearward downwardly depending vertical Wall 17 and a forward upwardly extending vertical wall 19 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

Rods 21 for operating the dispensing devices are slidable in openings 23 in the forward vertical Wall 19. The rods 21 have knobs 25 at their outer ends. Fixed to the inner end of each rod 21 is a block 27 having a iinger 2S engageable with a bar 29 slidable forward and rearward transverse to its length on the horizontal plate 15. When any one rod is pulled out, its finger 28 slides the bar forward, without moving out any other rod. The horizontal plate 15 is formed with six slots 31, one under each block, extending in forward and rearward direction. Studs 33 extend down from the fingers 28 and through the slots 31. These studs cooperate with interlock tumblers 35 slidably carried under the horizontal plate 15. The construction of these interlock tumblers is similar to that shown in my U. S. Patent 2,377,413, and since it does not form a part of this invention will not be further described. It will sulice to say that when any one rod 21 is pulled out, the interlock tumblers function to prevent the pulling out of any of the other rods.

A shaft 37 is journalled at its ends in the side plates 7. Fixed on the ends of this shaft 37 outward of the vertical side plates 7 and extending upward from the shaft are levers 39. Coupled to the ends of the bar 29 are slides 41 guided for forward and rearward sliding movement on the inside of the side plates 7. These slides carry studs 43 which extend through slots 45 in the side plates 7 and through slots 47 in the levers 39. Tension springs 49 connected to the side plates 7 at 51 and to the upper ends of the levers 39 at 53 bias the levers 39 to turn in clockwise direction as viewed from the right (Fig. 3). This biases the bar 29 and all the rods 21 to the retracted position illustrated in Figs. 1-4. When any one of the rods 21 is pulled out and the bar 29 thereby moved outward, the levers 39 are rotated counterclockwise from their retracted position illustrated in Fig. 3, thereby tensioning the springs 49. When the rod 21 is released the springs 49 return the bar 29 and the rod to the retracted position. The limits of movement of the levers 39 are determined by the engagement of the studs 43 with the ends of the slots 45.

The magazines 3 are all identical, and a description of one will suiiice for all. Each magazine has vertical parallel sheet metal side walls 55 spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the articles, such as candy bars, to be dispensed. Toward the front, the sides 55 are cut out as indicated at 57 some distance above the bottom of the magazine. The edges of the cutouts 57 are outwardly flanged as indicated at 59 for stiffness. Above the cutouts 57, the forward margins of the sides S5 are formed as inturned U-shaped flanges 61 (see Figs. 2, 7 and l1). Theseextend from the cutouts 57 to the top of the magazine and serve as a front for the magazine. The sides 55 are held in spaced relation at the front by spacer bolts 63, the heads of which are received in the U-shapcd flanges 6i. Below the cutouts 57, the magazine has a front wall 65. The maga. 'ne is mollted in the base frame 5 resting on the lo....r frame member 11, with its front wall engaging the vertical wall 17 of the front frame member 9 and vt'ith the rearward edges of the'sides 55 engaging the rear frame member 13. The lower frame member l1 -is located toward the rear of the bottom of the maga i Spaced from the front of the magazine a distance somewhat greater than the length of the articles, such as candy bars, to be dispensed, the magazine has a pair of transversely spaced vertical side rails or Midas 57 defining a vertical slot 69. Each guido con 's of a long bar of angle shape in section, having one leg fixed to the respective side wall 55 and its other entending toward the opposite side wall and constituting the rail or guide 67 as such. The guides 67 constitu l rear wall for the magazine. Rearward of the gui side walls 55 are more closely spaced than 'fo fard the guides, as indicated at 7i, and these more closely spaced rearward panels 71 have outwardly turned flanges 73 at their rearward edges. The guides 67 extend from a point somewhat below the top of the magazine to a point opposite the cutouts 57. The slot da? is open at top and bottom.

The Arear panels 71 of the sides in conjunction with the guides 67 define a housing at the rear oi the magazine for an endless chain conveyor generally designated 75. This chain conveyor comprises a pair of endless chains 77 trained around upper and lower sprockets 79 and 81, respectively. The upper sprockets 79 are fixed on a shaft 83 journalled at its ends in the rear side wall panels 71 at an elevation slightly below the upper ends of the guides 67. The lower sprockets 3l are fir-.ed on a shaft 85 journaled at its ends in the rear side wall panels 71 at an elevation slightly above the lower ends f the guides 67. The shafts 33 and are so located and the sprockets are of such size that the forward reach 87 of the conveyor travels vertically closely adjacent the rear of the guides 67, and the re rward reach of the conveyor travels vertically inst m nin' the rearward edges of panels 71. The sprockets 79 and di are fixed on the shafts closely adjacent the inside rearward side panels 71 so that the two chains 77 are opacvf distance somewhat greaterthan the width of the slot (sce lig. 1l). As will be later made clear, the forward reach A27 of the conveyor 75 moves downward upon each dispensing operation.

The conveyor carries a series oi' shelf su:L ports .tt spaced at intervals X. Each of these consists of a wire spanning the two chains 77 oi the conveyor with its ends held in aligned links of the two chains 77. The ward reaches 87 of the two chains travel between the guides 67 and rearward guides 93 to the side panels71. Each wire is removably mounted at its ends in the aligned chain links.

The wire shelf supports 91 on the endless conveyor 75 are for the purpose of holdirg a series of article supports in the form of shelves 95 in a drally vertically spaced array, with the shelves "L distance X, and for lowering the entire series this distance X upon each dispensing operation. T he e nt of the array is indicated by the bracket designated A in 3. The lowermost shelf in the array is specially des, o. Each shelf 95 (see Fig. l0) consists ot a sheet metal plate of generally rectangular outline having a corresponding to the width ot the magazine and a long the magazine to the rear of the maga ine as they guides 67. A T-shaped projection 97 extends Slot 69. Adjacent its rear edge 9S the shelf 95 has an opening 99. Toward its forward end, the shelf at its sides has ears E61 and at its forward end the shelf 95 has side ears w3. Each of the shelves in the vertically spaced array is supported at its rearward end by engagement of its rearward T -shaped projection 97 on one of the wire shelf supports 9i, with its forward end in slidable engagement with the iront flanges 61 of the magazine (see Figs, 4, 6 and 9). Each of the shelves 95 in the array, being longer than the distance from the front lisnges to the guides 67, is supported as illustrated in a position inclined upward from the rear to the front of the magazine.

An indexing mechanism is provided whereby the endless conveyor 75 is indexed through a distance corresponding to the vertical spacing X of the wire shelf supports 9i t the shelves 95) in response to the operation of pulling out rod 2l and then releasing it for return to retracted position. This mechanism comprises an escapement wheel lili fixed on the right end of the lower sproczet shaft As illustrated, this escapement wheel ltr has three teeth lll spaced at intervals. Rotation of the escapement wheel 3125 through 120 corresponds to movement of the endless conveyor 75 through a distance equal to the spacing of the wire shellz supports 9i.. A bar 'i169 is mounted for vertical sliding movement on the outside ot' the right-hand rear side panel 71 and outward of the escapement wheel 105. This bar is guided at its lower end by studs 1li and 113 fixed to the panel 7l, and at its upper end by an upper guide 115 lixed to the panel. On the inside of the bar M9 is provided a detent il? cooperative with the escapement wheel 105 to lock it against rotation.

A lever 119 is pivoted on the stud H3. This lever is iinlied to the rod Zi. by a link 121, pin-connected at "i213 to the lever and at i225 to the block 27 at the inner end of the rod 21. The arrangement is such that when the rod 2l is pulled outward, the lever 119 is rocked clockwise as viewed in Fin. 4, and when the rod 2i returns to its retracted position, the lever M9 is rocked counterclocltwise. 'l` he lever 139 carries a stud 127 engaged in a slot T129 at the lower end of the bar 169. When the lever M9 rocks clockwise, the bar 169 is moved upward from its lower retracted position illustrated in Fig. 4, and when the lever 119 rocks counterclockwise, the bar 69 moves back downward to its retracted position. ln the lower retracted position of the bar M9, the detent l? is positioned for engagement by the escapernent wheel ti (see Figs. 4 and 13). When the bar 1tl9 is fully raised, the detent lll is moved clear of escapement wheel ldd (see Fi". 5).

A lever lll is pivoted on the outside of the right-hand rear panel 71 above the escapement wheel on a stud 133 (see Fig. lil). This lever is controlled by the bar 109 and controls a second detent 35 for the escapement wheel. This second detent consists of a slide adapted to slide up and down against the outside of the panel 71 and has a central bent-out bridge 137 (see Fig. l5). One end of the lever 3l (its forward end) extends under this bridge. The bridge carries a stud 139 engaging in a slot 14E-l in the forward end of the lever. The irst detent 117 is formed as a Enger on a plate 43 fixed to the outside of the bar and overlying the second detent 135. The detent or iinger Ill extends through an opening in the har and projects inward from the bar (see Fig. l2). 'ibo left side of the second detent 135 is slitlable against the shoulder M7 at the -forward edge of the panel 7l. The right side of the bridge 137 of the second detent slides against the left edge of the bar 09. The plate M3 overlies the bridge to keep the second detent in assembly. The plate carries a stud 49 engaging in a slot tSl in the rearward end of the lever 131.

In the lowered retracted position of the control bar 109 (Figs. 4 and 13), the second detent 35 is held by the lever l a raised retracted position clear of the" escapement wheel. When the bar 109 moves upward to its raised position, lever 131 is rocked counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 4 and 13, to move the second detent downward into the position shown in Fig. 5 to block rotation of the escapement wheel, noting that the first detent 117 is now clear of the escapement wheel. The edge 153 of the second detent 135 engaged by the escapement wheel is spaced from the rst detent 117 the small distance Y shown in Fig. 13. Accordingly, when the first detent 117 moves up, and the second detent 135 moves down, the escapement wheel can rotate a small fraction of a revolution corresponding to this distance Y until it engages the edge 153 of second detent 135. Such rotation occurs due to the weight of the shelves 95 biasing the forward reach of the conveyor downward. Rotation of the escapement wheel through this small fraction of a revolution carries the uppermost tooth of the escapement wheel past the first detent 117 (see Fig. 5). When the bar 109 subsequently moves down, the second detent 135 is raised clear of the escapernent wheel, and the latter can then rotate until its next tooth engages the first detent 117, now brought back to tooth-engaging position (Figs. 4 and 13).

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be observed that the lowermost shelf of the array A specially designated 95a has its forward end spaced from the lower end of the magazine front flanges 61 (the upper limit of the cutouts 57) a vertical distance Z less than the vertical spacing X of the shelves in the array, Accordingly, upon each dispensing operation (one pull-out and return of rod 21), resulting in downward movement of the entire array the distance X, when the forward end of the lowermost shelf 95a of the array descends below the lower end of flanges 61, the lowermost shelf is freedfor swinging downward by gravity on its rearward end supporting wire 91, the wire acting as a pivot. This wire stops in a position slightly above the lower end of the guides 67, and the shelf remains keyed to the guides by its T-shaped projection 97. The keying is loose enough to allow the shelf to swing.

The shelf swings downward until its forward end ears 103 engage ledges 155 fixed to the insides of the magazine side walls 55. These ledges are located to support the shelf in an article-display position inclined downward toward the front of the magazine. The shelf in this article-display position is specially designated 95h in Figs. 4 and 9. The shelf is retained from sliding forward by the keying action of its T-shaped projection 97. The impact of the swinging shelf is reduced by providing a leaf spring 157 extending from the magazine front wall 65. The article on the inclined shelf is held from sliding in the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 9.

Also, upon each dispensing operation, that shelf 95b in article-display position as a result of 'the previous dispensing operation is released to fall by gravity and discharge the article on the shelf through the bottom of the magazine, the shelf, however, being retained in the magazine. The release of the shelf 95]) occurs as the forward reach of the conveyor, descending to lower the array of shelves, reaches the position where the wire specially designated 91a supporting the shelf 95h descends below the lower end of the guides 67, thereby freeing the T-shaped projection 97 of shelf 95b from the guides. `Nhereupon, the shelf 95b slides forward becauseof its inclination, and ears 103 slide off the ledges 155 so that the shelf is free to fall. This is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

As the rearward end of the shelf 95h is initially lowered, the opening 99 in the shelf accepts a retainer bar 159. This bar is mounted for sliding movement in a guide opening 161 in the upper and rearward end of an inclined shelf holder plate 163 in the magazine and in a lower guide 155 at the bottoni and the rear of the magazine. The shelf holder is steeply inclined in forward direction and, forward of its lower end, the bottom of the magazine is open as indicated at 167 to provide an article discharge opening. The retainer bar 159 is somewhat forwardly inclined from vertical. It is slidable between a raised shelf-retaining position, wherein it projects a suiiicient distance above the upper end of the shelf holder 163 to retain a considerable number of shelves (see Fig. 4), and a lowered retracted position wherein its upper end is withdrawn from within the openings 99 in the shelves (see Fig. 5).

A lever 169 is pivoted at 171 on the outside of the right-hand side wall 55 of the magazine. At its rear ward end, the lever has a slot 173 receiving a stud 175 on a bracket 177 fastened to the retainer bar 159, the stud extending through an elongate slot 179 in the panel 71. A tension spring 131 connected to the magazine front flange at 18,3 and to the lever at biases the lever to rock counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 5, and thus biases the retainer bar to its raised shelf-retaining position. This position is determined by engagement of the bracket 177 with the shelf holder 163. The lever 169 projects at its forward end 187 in front of the magazine and by moving its forward end upward the retainer bar 159 is moved downward to release the Shelves.

At the upper end of the magazine there is provided means for holding a reserve supply of shelves 95 above the array and for releasing a shelf from the reserve upon the lowering of the array to become the uppermost shelf of the array. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6-8, the holding means comprises a rearward platform 159 and forward ledges 191 for supporting a stack of shelves in the upper end of the magazine at the same inclination as the shelves in the array. The rearward platform 189 comprises a channel-section member fixed between the rear side panels 71 and inclined upward toward the front of the magazine in a plane which approximately intersects the upper end of the guides 67. The forward ledges 191 are fixed on the inside of the magazine side walls 55 in this plane in position for engagement by the forward end ears 103 on the lowermost shelf of the stack.

The magazine has a vertical rear wall 193 which extends frorn the platform 189 to the upper end of the magazine. This rear wall is spaced from the forward ends of ledges 191 a distance measured in the plane referred to in the previous paragraph slightly less than the total length of a shelf from its forward end to the rear edge of its T-shaped projection 97. The forward edge of the platform 189 is spaced rearward of the guides 67 a distance corresponding to the length of the T-shaped shelf projection. ln the lower end of the vertical wall 193 is an opening 195'. The reserve stack of .shelves is retained at the rear by the rear wall 193 and at the front by a vertical ledge 196 fixed to one of the magazine side walls 55. The lower end of the ledge 196 is spaced above the level of ledges 191 a distance greater than the thickness of Aone shelf but less than twice the thickness of a shelf.

A pusher 197 is guided for forward and rearward sliding movement on the platform 159 in line with opening by means of guide rails 199 fixed to the platform. The pusher has a retracted position (Figs. 4 and 8) wherein its forward end is rearward of the wall 193, and it is movable forward from this position to push the lowermost shelf of the reserve stack off the platform lli-i9, the pusher being a thin blade and thinner than a shelf. The pusher is operated from the control bar 109 through a rack and pinion mechanism, including a rack 251 fixed to the pusher and a pinion 203 on a shaft 255 journalled at its ends in rear side panels 71 and having a crank 2417 carrying a crank pin 299 engaged in a notch 211 in bar 109 adjacent its upper end. The arrangement is such that when the control bar 109 moves upward the pusher is moved forward to push the lowermost shelf of the reserve stack oif the platform 189 (Fig. 6), and when the control bar returns downf amaai-2 7 Ward to its retracted position the pusher is returned back to its retracted position (Figs. 4 and 8).

When the lowermost shelf of the stack is pushed forward by the pusher, its forward end ears 1f@ ride off the ledges 191 and the forward end of the shelf drops a `short distance on to a transverse support 213 mounted at its ends in the magazine side walls 55 and located forward of and slightly below the forward ends of the ledges. The rearward T-shaped projection 97 of the shelf comes into keying relation with the guides 67, dropping ol the platform 189 a short distance on to a re4V` 215 movable forward and rearward with the pusher. This retainer is carried under the platform 1F59 by fas teners 217 extending from the pusher through a slot El? in the platform. It reaches vfarther forward than the pusher. In the retracted position of the pusher, the forward end of the retainer is closely actie-.cent the for-- ward end of the platform (Figs. 4 and d).

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the dispensing devices 1 are housed in a cabinet 221 having a front 223 which may be opened for servicing. The front has an inclined window 225 through which the articles on those shelves 5b in article-display position may be viewed. The front is also provided with a chute 227 which, when the front is closed, has its inner and upper end in register with the bottom openings 167 of the magazines. The front has an opening 229 at the forward end of the chute, which terminates in a receiver 231 for articles dispensed.

Operation is as follows:

Assuming that the machine has just been serviced, there will be a complete series of the shelves 95 in the vertical array A (including the lowermost shelf 95a of the array), a shelf 9511 in article-display position, a reservev stack of shelves at the upper end of the magazine, andan individual article, such as a candy bar C, on each of the shelves in the array and on the shelf Qb in article-display position. The article C on the shelf @5b in article-display position is readily viewed by the purchaser through the window 225 in the front of the cabinet (see Fig. 4). With the shelf 95h in inclined position sloping downward toward the front of the machine, the article thereon is most advantageously displayed.

It will be understood that the rods 21 will all be locked against pulling out by a coin-controlled mechanism, which is not shown herein, as its details do not form a part of this invention. Upon insertion of a coin by the purchaser, the rods will be released so that the purchaser may pull out the rod for the particular magazine containing the article which the purchaser wishes to buy.

Following the insertion of the co-in to release the rods 21, the purchaser pulls out the particular rod in front of the magazine containing the article which the purchaser has selected, and then either releases tne rod or pushes it back inward. It will be understood that if the purchaser simply releases the rod, it will be returned inward to its retracted position by the action of the springs 49. The effect o-f pulling out the rod from its retracted position and the return of the rod to its retracted position is'as follows:

Pulling out the rod 21 results in outward movement of the slidable bar 29 and actuation of the interlock tumblers 35 to lock out all the other rods, so that theft is precluded. Upon pulling out the rod, the lever 119 is rocked clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4, by means of the link 121 connecting the rod and the lever. As the lever rocks clockwise, the control bar 139 is moved upward from its lowered retracted position (Fig. 4) to the upper limit of its stroke (Fig. 5), as determined by the extent of swing of the lever.

Upon the upward movement of the control bar 169, the rst detent 117 is moved clear of the escapement wheel 105, and the second detent 135 is moved downward into position to block rotation of the escapernent wheel 105 in clockwise direction (Fig. 5). 1t will be understood ttthe e'scapement wheel is under a bias tending to turn it in counterclockwise direction imposed by the weight of the shelves in the array and the weight of the articles on these shelves. As soon as the rst detent 117 has moved upward to the point where it clears the escapement wheel, the conveyor moves through the small distance corresponding to the small fraction of a revolution which the escapernent wheel rotates until it comes into engagement with the edge 153 of the second detent 135 (note the distance Y, Fig. 13). The entire array of shelves moves downward a small distance, and the rearward end of the sheif @5b in article-display position moves downward a small distance to accept the retainer bar 159. The shelf "Elib, however, remains substantially in its original article-display position inclined downward toward the ront of the magazine.

Upward movement of the control bar also results in rotation of the pinion 2193 in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. S to move forward the pusher 197 and the retainer 215. The pusher pushes the lowermost shelf of the reserve stack of shelves forward to the point where the T-shaped projection @7 of the shelf clears the platform 159 and the forward end ears 1193 of the shelf clear the forward ends of the ledges 191. This is indicated at D in Fig. 6. None of the other shelves in the reserve stack are affected, except insofar as the entire reserve stack then drops down upon the platform 189 and the ledges 151. As to that shelf which has been pushed forward by the pusher, it drops down slightly to the point where its forward end engages the support 213 and its T-shaped projection rests on the retainer 215. This is indicated at E in Fig. 6. The T-shaped projection 97 of the shelf comes into keying relation with the guides o7. it will be noted that when the reserve stack of shelves drops downward the thickness of one shelf upon the release of the lowerrnost shelf in the stack, the rearward end of the stack rests upon the forward end of the pusher 197 which protrudes through the opening 195 in the wall 193.

Upon return of the rod 21 to its retracted Fig. 4 position, the lever 119 is rocked counterclo-ckwise and the control bar 1h99 moves back downward to its retracted position. This has the effect of raising the second detent clear of the escapement wheel. Meanwhile, as a result of the fractional rotation of the escapernent wheel effected hy the pulling out of the rod 21, the uppermost tooth of the escapernent wheel has been carried past the first detent 117 (see Fig. 5). Consequently, as soon as the second detent 135 has been lifted clear of the escapement wheel, the latter is freed for rotation to the point where its next tooth engages the first detent 117 (now brought back to its lowered wheel-engaging position shown in Figs. 4 and 13). Upon such release of the escapernent wheel, the conveyor' 75 is freed to move under the gravity bias of the weight of the shelves in the array and the articles on the shelves, and the forward reach of the conveyor moves downward until the next tooth on the escapernent wheel engages the rst detent 117. The result is that all the shelves in the array are lowered a distance corresponding to the vertical spacing X of the shelves.

Also, the shelf 95h in article-display position is released to fall by gravity downward upon the inclined shelf holder 163. As previously stated, this occurs as the wire @in supporting the shelf 95h descends below the lower end of the guide 67. Release of the shelf 251) for swing ing downward occurs as a result of the shelf sliding forward to the point where its forward end ears 103 slide off the ledges (see Fig. 9). The opening 99 in the shelf is large enough in relation to the retainer bar 159 to allow this sliding movement.

As the released shelf swings downward from the 95h position, and engages the inclined shelf holder 163, the article C thereon, which is the same article that the purchaser viewed in making his selection, slides off the shelf through the open bottom 167 of the magazine into the chute 227 and is delivered to the purchaser. The shelf does not drop out through the open bottom 167 of the magazine since it is retained by the retainer bar 159 in the position illustrated in Fig. 4.

Immediately following the release of the shelf 95b which was in article-display position and the actual dispensing of the article on this shelf, the lowermost shelf 95a of the vertical array is released to swing downward to the articledisplay position. This occurs, as previously explained, when the forward end of the lowermost shelf 95a in the array descends below the lower ends of the magazine front flanges 61. Accordingly, upon each dispensing operation and following the dispensing of the article, another article is brought into display position.

Also, as the control bar 109 moves downward in returning to its lowered retracted position, the pusher 197 and the retainer 215 are returned rearward to their retracted position shown in Fig. 8. The result of this is that the shelf which was held up by the retainer drops downward until its T-shaped projection engages the wire 91 on the conveyor which has just come around the upper set of sprockets. It will be understood that as the retainer 215 is withdrawn from under the rear end of the shelf, the rear end drops downward and this enables the forward end of the shelf to slide rearward off the support 213. Thus, that shelf which was the lowermost shelf in the reserve stack becomes the uppermost shelf in the array A.

As articles are dispensed and the shelves in the array are indexed downward, empty shelves at the top replace those from which articles have been dispensed, and those shelves from which articles have been dispensed pile up on the shelf holder 163. Assuming that, for example, only two articles remain in the magazine when a service call is made, the first of these remaining two articles will be on a shelf in display position 95]), and the second will be on the lowermost shelf 95a of the vertical array. Above this lowermost shelf 95a, the remainder of the shelves 95 in the array will be empty. The serviceman will simply need to place fresh articles on those empty shelves 95 in the vertical array. This insures that the two articles which remain in the machine will be the first to be dispensed, so that no articles will remain in the machine for an undue period of time and become stale. The serviceman will also extract the pile of shelves from the shelf holder 163 at the bottom of the magazine by moving up the outer end 187 of lever 169 to withdraw the retainer bar 159 from within the openings 99 in the shelves (Fig. The released pile of shelves simply drops out through the open bottom 167 of the magazine. The serviceman then takes this pile of shelves and places it on top of the reserve stack in the upper end of the magazine.

The above described apparatus may be readily changed to accommodate articles of different sizes by changing the spacing of the wires 91 carried by the endless chains 77, and by substituting a diiferent escapement wheel with a number of teeth appropriate to the wire spacing. For example, the wire spacing X illustrated herein may be halved, and in this case a six-toothed escapement wheel will be used instead of the three-toothed wheel 105. The wire spacing may be increased one ,and one-half times, in which case a two-toothed escapement wheel will be used. In this way, the device may be adapted for articles of different height, noting that the device may be made to hold a larger supply of articles of lesser height.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. In a vending machine for vending individual articles, an article dispensing device comprising means for supporting a plurality of article-supporting shelves in a generally vertically spaced array, said means including a plurality of movable shelf supports, one for each of the shelves in the array, and means for simultaneously moving said shelf supports to effect release of the lower shelf of the array to allow it to fall away from the array and so to effect lowering of the remaining shelves in the array a distance corresponding to the spacing of the shelves in the array, means for holding a reserve supply of shelves above the array, and means for releasing a shelf from said reserve upon lowering of the shelves in the array to become the uppermost shelf of the array.

2. A dispensing device comprising means for supporting a plurality of article-supporting shelves in a generally vertically spaced array and for supporting one shelf under the array in an article-display position, said means including a plurality of movable shelf supports, one for each of the shelves in the array and one for the shelf in articledisplay position, and means for simultaneously moving said shelf supports to elfect release of the shelf in articledisplay position to allow it to fall and dispense the article thereon, to effect release of the lowermost shelf of the array to allow it to fall to article-display position, and to effect lowering of the remaining shelves in the array a distance corresponding to the spacing of the shelves in the array, means for holding a reserve supply of shelves above the array, and means for releasing a shelf from said reserve upon lowering yof the shelves in the array to become the uppermost shelf of the array.

3. A dispensing device comprising a vertical magazine, means for supporting a plurality of article-supporting shelves in a generally vertically spaced array in the magazine and for supporting one shelf under the array in an article-display position, said means including a plurality of movable shelf supports, one for each of the shelves in the array and one for the shelf in article-display position, each shelf in the array and the shelf in article-display position resting at one end on a shelf support, the magazine having means for supporting each shelf at its opposite edge and permitting it to move downward, and means for simultaneously moving said shelf supports `to effect release of the shelf in article-display position to allow it to fall and dispense the article thereon, to effect release of the lowermost shelf of the array to allow it to fall to articledisplay position, and to effect lowering of the remaining shelves in the array a distance corresponding to the spacing of the shelves in the array, means for holding a reserve supply of shelves above the array, and means for releasing a shelf from said reserve upon lowering of the shelves in the array to become the uppermost shelf of the array.

4. A dispensing device comprising a vertical magazine, an endless conveyor having a forward reach movable downward at the rear of the magazine, uniformly spaced shelf supports on the conveyor, means for indexing the conveyor through a distance corresponding to the spacing of the supports, a plurality of shelves each longer than the distance from the front to the rear of the magazine, one of said shelves being supported in an article-display position inclined downward toward the front of tne magazine by resting disengageably at its rearward end on the lowermost shelf support on the forward reach of the conveyor and at its forward end on supporting means in the magazine, the other shelves being supported in a vertical array one above another each in a position inclined upward toward the front of the magazine by resting disengageably at their rear ends on the successive shelf supports and at their forward ends against the front of the magazine, the front of the magazine having an open portion between the lowermost shelf in the array and the shelf in article-display position, whereby upon indexing of the conveyor and downward movement of its forward reach the shelf in article-display position slides o its respec'tive shelf support and falls away from the conveyor and an article thereon is dispensed, the lowermost shelf of the array falls to article-display position, and the remaining shelves are lowered a distance corresponding to the spacing of the shelf supports.

5. A dispensing device comprising a vertical magazine, an endless conveyor having a forward reach movable downward at the rear of the magazine, uniformly spaced shelf supports on the conveyor, means for indexing the conveyor through a distance correspondac to the spacing of the supports, a plurality of shelves each longer than the distance from the front to the rear of the magazine, one of said shelves being supported in an article-display position inclined downward toward the front of the magazine by resting at its rearward end on the lowermost shelf support on the forward reach of the conveyor and at its forward end on supporting means in the magazine, the other shelves being supported in a vertical array one above another each in a position inclined upward toward the front of the magazine by resting at their rear ends on the successive shelf supports and at their forward ends against the front of the magazine, the front of the magazine having an open portion between the lowermost shelf in the array and the shelf in article-display position, whereby upon indexing of the conveyor and downward movement of its forward reach the shelf in article-display position falls and an article thereon is dispensed, the lowermost shelf of the array falls to article-display position, and the remaining shelves are lowered a distance corresponding to the spacing of the shelf supports, means for holding a reserve supply of shelves above the array, and means for releasing a shelf from said reserve upon lowering of the shelves in the array to become the uppermost shelf of the array.

6. In a vending machine for vending individual articles, a magazine-type article dispensing device comprising means for holding one shelf in an article-display position and for holding a plurality of shelves in a generally vertically spaced array above said one shelf, said means being operable to cause the shelf in mticle-display position to move downward to an article-dispensing position such that the article on the shelf may slide off, to cause the lowermost shelf of the array to fall to article-display position, and to effect lowering of the remaining shelves in the array a distance corresponding to the shelves in the array, means for holding a reserve supply of shelves above the array, and means for releasing a shelf from said reserve upon the lowering of the shelves in the array to become the uppermost shelf of the array, the shelves from which articles have previously been dispensed being replaceable inthe reserve.

7. A dispensing device comprising a vertical magazine having vertical sides and inwardly directed flanges at the front, an endless conveyor having a forward reach movable generally vertically downward at the rear of the magazine, uniformly spaced shelf supports on the conveyor, and a plurality of shelves longer than the horizontal distance from the front flanges to the forward reach of the conveyor, each shelf resting disengageably at its rearward end on a shelf support on the forward reach of the conveyor so that it may slide off the support with its forward end resting against the front flanges and being inclined upward toward the front flanges.

8. A dispensing device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the magazine has vertictl side guides in front of the conveyor defining a vertical slot open at top and bottom and wherein the shelves have tongues at their rearward ends extending through the slot and resting on the shelf supports and shaped for slidably 1Keying with the guides.

9. A dispensing device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the front llanges vterminate somewhat above the lower end f rthe forward reach of the conveyor'.

l0. A dispensing device as set forth in claim 7 further comprising indexing means for holding the conveyor against movement under the weight of the shelves and for releasing the conveyor to allow it to index through a distance corresponding to the spacing of the shelf supports.

ll. A dispensing device comprising a vertical magazine having vertical sides and inwardly directed flanges at the front, and vertical side guides toward t le rear defining a vertical slot open at top and bottom, an endless conveyor comprising a pair of laterally spaced chains having a forward vertical reach in which the chains travel downrcsrwnrd of the side guides, uniformly spaced shelf supports carried by the chains, each support comprising a wire removably mounted at its ends in aligned links of the two chains and, in said vertical reach, extending crosswise of and at the rear of the slot, and a plurality of shelves in the magazine, each longer than the horizontal distance from the front flanges to the forward reach of the chains, and having a tongue ot its rearward end extending through the slot and resting on a. wire and shaped for slidably keying with the guides, each shelf resting at its forward end against the front flanges and being inclined upward toward the front ilanges.

l2. A dispensing device comprising a vertical maga- Zine having vertical sides provided with cut-outs at the front located below the upper end of the magazine, the sides having inturncd flanges at the front extending up from the cut-outs, endless conveyor having a forward vertical reach movable downward at the rear of the magazine, the lower end of said forward reach being opposite the cut-outs, uniformly `spaced shelf supports on the conveyor, shelf-supporting means at the front of the magazine located below the lower end of the forward reach of the conveyor, a shelf supported in article-display position inclined downward toward the front of the magazine by resting at its rearward end on the lowerrnost shelf support of the forward reach of the conveyor and at its forward end on said supporting means, a plurality of shelves supported in a vertically spaced array above the one shelf in article-display position in position inclined upward toward the front of the magazine by resting their rearward ends on the remainder of the shelf supports of the forward reach of the conveyor and at their forward ends against the front flanges, means for holding a reserve staclt of shelves in the upper end of the magazine, and pnrchaser-controlled means for effecting indexing of the conveyor through a distance corresponding to the spacing of said shelf supports in the direction for downward movement of its forward reach to release the shelf in article-display position for falling to an articledispensing position such that an article on the shelf slides off the `shelf and out through the bottoni of the magazine, to release the lowerniost shelf of the array to fall to article-display position, to lower the remaining shelves of the array a distance corresponding to the spacing of the shelf supports, and including means for releasing the bottom shelf of the reserve stack to become the uppermost shelf of the array.

13. A dispensing device as set forth in claim l2, further comprising means in the lower end of the magazine for releasably retaining shelves falling from article-display to article-dispensing position, said shelves being replaceable in the reserve stack.

14. A dispensing device as set forth in claim 12 wherein the said supporting means for the shelf in articledisplay position comprises a pair of narrow ledges on the sides of the magazine, and each shelf has side ears at its forward end resting on said ledges, the ears being wider than the ledges and adapted to slide forward and off the ledges upon movement of the conveyor.

l5. A dispensing device as set forth in claim 12 wherein the conveyor is biased for downward movement of its forward reach by the weight of the shelves, wherein there is an escapement wheel rotary by the conveyor, and wherein the purchaser-controlled means comprises detent means for holding the escapeinent wheel against rotation 13 operable to release the wheel for indexing movement of the conveyor under its bias.

16. A dispensing device as set forth in claim 12 wherein each shelf has side ears at its forward end, and wherein the means for holding the reserve stack comprises a platform for supporting the stack at the rear and ledges narrower than the ears at the front of the magazine on which rest the ears of the lowermost shelf in the stack, and means for pushing the lowermost shelf forward to cause its rearward end to ride olf the platform and its ears to ride off the ledges.

17. In a vending machine, an endless conveyor having a generally vertical reach, uniformly spaced shelf supports on the conveyor adapted, in said vertical reach, to support a plurality of shelves in spaced relation one above another, said conveyor being biased for downward movement of said vertical reach by the weight of said shelves, a toothed escapement wheel means whereby the wheel is positively rotated by the conveyor, detent means for holding the escapement wheel against rotation comprising a slideable control bar, a detent on the bar, said bar normally occupying a retracted position in Which said detent is engaged by a tooth of the wheel to hold the wheel against rotation, said bar being movable in one direction from its retracted position to move said detent clear of the escapement Wheel, a slide constituting a second detent for engagement by a tooth of the escapement wheel, said slide normally occupying a retracted position clear of the escapement wheel, means actuated by the bar and acting on the slide to move the slide from its retracted position into an operative position for engagement by a tooth of the escapement wheel upon the stated movement of the bar from its retracted position, said slide being so located relative to the rst detent as to allow the wheel to rotate a fraction of its tooth spacing to carry a tooth past the first detent and into engagement with the slide upon the stated movement of the bar from its retracted position, said slide being returned to its retracted position upon return movement of said bar to retracted position to free the wheel for rotation until its next tooth engages the first detent, and purchaser-controlled means for operating the bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 510,626 Zeller Dec. 12, 1893 737,665 Rupley Sept. 1, 1903 1,683,360 Lea Sept. 4, 1928 1,787,204 Lea Dec. 30, 1930 1,868,222 Sandberg July 19, 1932 2,100,752 Scheurer Nov. 30, 1937 2,113,120 Woodward Apr. 5, 1938 2,186,861 Fry Jan. 9, 1940 2,199,213 Traphan Apr. 30, 1940 2,379,112 Stewart June 26, 1945 2,533,623 Ransom Dec. l2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 442,407 Great Britain of 1936 

